PATNA, Sept. 22 -- As the southwest monsoon edges toward withdrawal, Bihar finds itself caught in a familiar yet punishing bind. Large parts of the state are locked in drought-like conditions after receiving nearly 37% less rainfall than normal between 1 June and 20 September, while other pockets have already suffered flood devastation that has damaged standing crops worth hundreds of crores. Official figures released on Monday put the cumulative monsoon rainfall at roughly 586-599 mm against a normal of 925.5 mm - a shortfall of about 36.7-37%. The India meteorological department's (IMD) district-wise data underscores the uneven distribution of monsoon rains. Thirty-two of 38 districts recorded deficient rainfall in the range of 20-59% below normal, and one - Sheohar - was classified as large deficient, which witnessed rainfall below 60-99% of normal. Only five districts managed to have near-normal rainfall are Aurangabad, Buxar, Khagaria, Lakhisarai and Siwan. No district recorded excess rainfall. The three districts that received the highest actual rainfall between 1 June and 20 September were Kishanganj (1,134.3 mm), Araria (823.9 mm) and Lakhisarai (817 mm). At the other extreme, the lowest rainfall was recorded in Purnea (just 146 mm), Jehanabad (319.7 mm) and Darbhanga (413.7 mm). Rainfall deficiency, a senior officer of the agriculture department said, had little impact on paddy seedling and transplantation. Paddy transplanting stood at 37.596 lakh ha against a target of 37.988 lakh ha (98.97%). Maize coverage was 2.651 lakh ha versus a target of 2.698 lakh ha (98.26%). Overall crop coverage as of the morning of September 21 was 41.579 lakh ha against a target of 42.281 lakh ha (98.34%). However, the real pressure is visible in pulses and oilseeds sectors. Total pulses coverage was only 0.747 lakh ha against a target of 0.877 lakh ha (85.18%). Oilseeds fared worse at 0.082 lakh ha against 0.127 lakh ha (64.43%). Millets reached 81.9% of target. Sugarcane, relatively more resilient, stood at 97.48%. District-level data reveals sharper local impacts. Jamui managed only 88% of its paddy transplanting target. Aurangabad was at 95%, Madhubani 96%, and Rohtas, Gaya and several others hovered around 97%. Maize sowing was particularly weak in Nalanda (52%), Jehanabad (46%), Kishanganj (42%), Katihar (54%), Madhubani (64%) and Sheikhpura (70%). In Rohtas, where paddy transplanting is at 97% and maize at only 73% of target, farmers describe a season of uncertainty. "The rains came late and then stopped. We had to depend on diesel pumps for transplanting, which has already driven up costs," said Vijay Mishra, a farmer Bikramganj block of Rohtas. Another farmer, Sheo Prasad Singh of Sunghatta village in Bhojour complained that the soil is hardening and the standing crop is showing signs of moisture stress. "If the remaining monsoon does not deliver, we will need irrigation support or the yield will drop sharply," he added. Several farmers said they have already spent more than planned on supplementary irrigation and fear further losses if September-end showers fail to materialise. While 33 districts remain in the deficient or large-deficient category, a handful of districts have recorded closer-to-normal rainfall and relatively better crop coverage. At the same time, flood-hit pockets in the state have reported extensive damage to standing crops valued at hundreds of crores. Officials note that the overall monsoon deficit of nearly 37% has already compressed the sowing window for several minor crops and is putting residual stress on the main paddy crop in the rain-deficit zones....